Power outages are annoying. Here’s what usually causes them.
If your home has suddenly lost power, there are a handful of issues we see over and over. These are the most common faults we get called out to fix in areas like Ringwood, Croydon, Lilydale and Mooroolbark. Some you can sort yourself. Others will need a qualified electrician.
1. Tripped safety switch
This is the most common reason for part of your home going dark. A safety switch turns off power if it detects a fault. Often it’s caused by a dodgy appliance like a kettle, heater or fridge. It’s also frequently caused by water ingress, which is beyond a DIY fix.
What to check:
- Go to your switchboard and look for any switches labelled RCD or Safety Switch
- If one is off, try switching it back on
- If it trips again, unplug everything on that circuit and try again
If it still won’t stay on, it’s not the appliances. That’s the point where you should call us.
2. Tripped circuit breaker
Not every trip is caused by a safety switch. Some are standard circuit breakers. These protect against overloading. This usually happens when too many devices run off one circuit, like a heater and vacuum cleaner on the same power point.
You’ll know this is the problem if:
- A circuit breaker (not labelled safety switch) is down
- Nothing is plugged in that’s obviously faulty
You can try resetting it. If it trips again straight away, we’ll need to check your wiring or split some circuits. Again this is when you call us!
3. Main switch off or faulty
If your whole house is out, check the main switch. It can trip during a power surge or fault upstream. Sometimes we find these switches are worn out or incorrectly sized.
If you find your main switch is off, try switching it back on. If it holds, good. If not, leave it off and call us. Don’t force it. A failing main switch needs replacement — not more attempts.
4. Burnt out neutral link or connection
This one’s not visible unless we take the cover off your switchboard, but it’s common in older properties. When a neutral connection burns out, you’ll get lights flickering or appliances not working properly before the power drops entirely.
If your lights are dim or flickering, or some rooms work and others don’t, don’t ignore it. Burnt neutral connections can be dangerous. We can test for this safely and fix the point of failure. There is NOTHING you can do here except call us, and turn off your Main Switch
5. Faulty underground or mains cable
Sometimes the problem isn’t inside the house. Faults in the underground mains cable or the connection point at your pit or pole can cut power. This is common in older homes, or those that have had tree roots, shifting soil or building works.
Signs to watch for:
- No power to the house at all
- Main switch is on but nothing works
- Neighbours still have power
- Your Meter is dead
We have the right tools to test and locate where the fault is, and repair or replace the affected cable. This is not something you can DIY — it’s supply-related and needs a licensed electrician.
Not sure what’s caused your power outage?
If you’ve tried resetting switches and unplugging appliances but still have no power, it’s time to call us. We handle callouts across Melbourne’s east, including Ringwood, Croydon, Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Bayswater and surrounding suburbs.
We’ll quickly find the fault, explain what’s happened and get you powered back up.
